Something went wrong. Try again later
    Follow

    Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

    Game » consists of 14 releases. Released Oct 13, 2009

    Nathan Drake returns to find the lost secret of Marco Polo, in this sequel to the 2007 sleeper hit Uncharted: Drake's Fortune.

    Giant Bomb's PlayStation 3-Only Game of the Year, 2009

    • 94 results
    • 1
    • 2
    Avatar image for ryan
    Ryan

    2675

    Forum Posts

    2827

    Wiki Points

    145119

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 1

    Edited By Ryan  Staff

    After years spent finding its footing, the PlayStation 3 came through with some of the best platform exclusives we played in 2009, and it just so happened that those exclusives were produced almost exclusively by Sony itself. We whittled our list down to the final three, but there could be only one PlayStation 3 game of the year...

    Best PlayStation 3-Only Game


    Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

     
    No Caption Provided
    Nathan Drake has a knack for getting himself into and then out of some real crazy rock/hard-place situations, usually while exceeding the maximum number of tight scrapes and incidental explosions that the law will allow, roughly every 30 to 45 minutes. This is, at its essence, what makes Uncharted 2: Among Thieves a fun game. It's not a complicated or even terribly inventive formula, but what what makes Uncharted 2 an exceptional game lies almost entirely in Naughty Dog's relentless execution, which delivers nothing less than one of the PlayStation 3's most viscerally thrilling, visually stunning, and just out-and-out fun experiences. 
     
    You've got a likable and incredibly relatable hero in Nathan Drake, and on the other side there's Zoran Lazarevic, one of the baddest bad guys we've seen in a video game in a good long while. The pure-adventure story isn't itself the most compelling thing about Uncharted 2, but it allows for wonderful amount of globe-trotting to exotic and fantastical locales. Uncharted 2's unimpeachable good looks extend beyond the detailed environments, awesome explosions, and naturalistic character animations, and go right down to the very hair on Nathan's head. Everything is just so dense with detail, it's hard not to be impressed on some level. Even the camera in Uncharted 2 is worth mentioning for the elegance with which it presents all that chaos. The camera.
     
    The underlying shoot-and-climb gameplay in Uncharted 2 isn't phenomenally different from its predecessor, but it finds significantly better focus here, and loses any faint traces of being a Tomb Raider also-ran that might've been lingering in the process. The gunplay feel substantive without being too technically demanding, and the traversal makes every jump feel like you just barely made it. That seat-of-your-pants balance between control and chaos is a hell of a thing to achieve, and it's a characteristic that runs bone-deep in Uncharted 2.

    It looks great, it plays great, it's a whole hell of a lot of fun, and it's our 2009 PlayStation 3-only game of the year.



     
     
    Runners-Up: InFamous, Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time

    Avatar image for ryan
    Ryan

    2675

    Forum Posts

    2827

    Wiki Points

    145119

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 1

    #1  Edited By Ryan  Staff

    After years spent finding its footing, the PlayStation 3 came through with some of the best platform exclusives we played in 2009, and it just so happened that those exclusives were produced almost exclusively by Sony itself. We whittled our list down to the final three, but there could be only one PlayStation 3 game of the year...

    Best PlayStation 3-Only Game


    Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

     
    No Caption Provided
    Nathan Drake has a knack for getting himself into and then out of some real crazy rock/hard-place situations, usually while exceeding the maximum number of tight scrapes and incidental explosions that the law will allow, roughly every 30 to 45 minutes. This is, at its essence, what makes Uncharted 2: Among Thieves a fun game. It's not a complicated or even terribly inventive formula, but what what makes Uncharted 2 an exceptional game lies almost entirely in Naughty Dog's relentless execution, which delivers nothing less than one of the PlayStation 3's most viscerally thrilling, visually stunning, and just out-and-out fun experiences. 
     
    You've got a likable and incredibly relatable hero in Nathan Drake, and on the other side there's Zoran Lazarevic, one of the baddest bad guys we've seen in a video game in a good long while. The pure-adventure story isn't itself the most compelling thing about Uncharted 2, but it allows for wonderful amount of globe-trotting to exotic and fantastical locales. Uncharted 2's unimpeachable good looks extend beyond the detailed environments, awesome explosions, and naturalistic character animations, and go right down to the very hair on Nathan's head. Everything is just so dense with detail, it's hard not to be impressed on some level. Even the camera in Uncharted 2 is worth mentioning for the elegance with which it presents all that chaos. The camera.
     
    The underlying shoot-and-climb gameplay in Uncharted 2 isn't phenomenally different from its predecessor, but it finds significantly better focus here, and loses any faint traces of being a Tomb Raider also-ran that might've been lingering in the process. The gunplay feel substantive without being too technically demanding, and the traversal makes every jump feel like you just barely made it. That seat-of-your-pants balance between control and chaos is a hell of a thing to achieve, and it's a characteristic that runs bone-deep in Uncharted 2.

    It looks great, it plays great, it's a whole hell of a lot of fun, and it's our 2009 PlayStation 3-only game of the year.



     
     
    Runners-Up: InFamous, Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time

    Avatar image for canucks23
    canucks23

    1081

    Forum Posts

    5

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 2

    #2  Edited By canucks23

    Suprise Suprise. Nolan North is cleaning house.

    Avatar image for buzz_killington
    buzz_killington

    3674

    Forum Posts

    5319

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 10

    User Lists: 2

    #3  Edited By buzz_killington

    Well-deserved

    Avatar image for jroo
    JRoo

    19

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #4  Edited By JRoo

    Good choice.
    Avatar image for jacob816
    jacob816

    150

    Forum Posts

    12898

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 7

    #5  Edited By jacob816

    What an upset!

    Avatar image for the_philosopher
    The_Philosopher

    634

    Forum Posts

    111

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 3

    User Lists: 8

    #6  Edited By The_Philosopher

    Not too surprised here, excellent choice though.

    Avatar image for inuzagi
    Inuzagi

    173

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #7  Edited By Inuzagi

    It's nice seeing Infamous and Ratchet in the runner's up at the very least. Otherwise a good choice I suppose.

    Avatar image for cstrang
    cstrang

    2417

    Forum Posts

    2213

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 4

    #8  Edited By cstrang

    Not surprising.  I dunno if I wanna watch this, as I have yet to play this game.
     
    EDIT: Brad just jumped off the fucking train...  I guess he owes Dave a beer.
    EDIT EDIT:  Wow.  Brad dies like 6 times in this.

    Avatar image for addfwyn
    Addfwyn

    2057

    Forum Posts

    33

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 10

    User Lists: 11

    #9  Edited By Addfwyn

    No big surprise here, but well-deserved nonetheless.  Best game in years, happens to be on PS3, obviously gonna be the PS3 goty.
     
    I like the runner-up choices too though, very glad to see that inFamous was at least in a distant contention.

    Avatar image for pie
    Pie

    7370

    Forum Posts

    515

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 7

    #10  Edited By Pie

    Right good, now you can put up the GOTY podcast right?

    Avatar image for ghostiet
    Ghostiet

    5832

    Forum Posts

    160

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 3

    #11  Edited By Ghostiet

    It's sad Killzone 2 was so neglected this year's awards. I felt that after seeing Jeff's excitement over the multi, it would be at least considered.

    Avatar image for venatio
    Venatio

    4757

    Forum Posts

    288

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 6

    #12  Edited By Venatio

    Great but is there no chance that it could win Game of the year now? Because then they would have to do 2 QLs? 
     
    Anyway I think Batman is gonna win GOTY although Uncharted 2 should win

    Avatar image for cerza
    Cerza

    1678

    Forum Posts

    25

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 15

    User Lists: 4

    #13  Edited By Cerza

    No surprise here. Say when is that podcast coming up?

    Avatar image for legend
    Legend

    2735

    Forum Posts

    17405

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 3

    User Lists: 28

    #14  Edited By Legend

    Yep, it's official Arkham Asylum is GB's GOTY.
     
    Edit: Nope, it's Uncharted 2.

    Avatar image for handlas
    handlas

    3414

    Forum Posts

    18

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 1

    #15  Edited By handlas
    @Ghostiet said:
    " It's sad Killzone 2 was so neglected this year's awards. I felt that after seeing Jeff's excitement over the multi, it would be at least considered. "
    I agree but also a little game...you know...that got critical praise and wasn't even reviewed here.
     
    But it's their site, so they play what they want I guess.  Can't complain or say I'm surprised by the choices.  I think I'm happiest to see Ratchet and Clank on there.
    Avatar image for cirdain
    Cirdain

    3796

    Forum Posts

    1645

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: -1

    User Lists: 6

    #16  Edited By Cirdain

    wheres batman

    Avatar image for ahmadmetallic
    AhmadMetallic

    19300

    Forum Posts

    -1

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 11

    #17  Edited By AhmadMetallic

    First !!! after about 20 ppl

    Avatar image for visariloyalist
    VisariLoyalist

    3142

    Forum Posts

    2413

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 3

    User Lists: 4

    #18  Edited By VisariLoyalist

    surprise surprise

    Avatar image for addfwyn
    Addfwyn

    2057

    Forum Posts

    33

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 10

    User Lists: 11

    #19  Edited By Addfwyn
    @Legend said:
    " Yep, it's official Arkham Asylum is GB's GOTY. "
    How do you know, the podcast isn't up yet is it?
    Avatar image for agentofchaos
    AgentofChaos

    1575

    Forum Posts

    436

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #20  Edited By AgentofChaos

    No surprises here.

    Avatar image for mcwhammer
    MCWHAMMER

    58

    Forum Posts

    500

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 4

    User Lists: 0

    #21  Edited By MCWHAMMER

    I don't remember mine taking that long to load after an FMV.  What's wrong with your PS3?

    Avatar image for supercubedude
    supercubedude

    573

    Forum Posts

    226

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 5

    #22  Edited By supercubedude
    @Cirdain said:
    " wheres batman "
    This award is for PS3-Only games, that's why Batman isn't up for this or the Best 360 award.
    Avatar image for zombie2011
    zombie2011

    5628

    Forum Posts

    8742

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 5

    #23  Edited By zombie2011

    I hope AC2 wins GOTY seeing there was no quick look for that game. Also its a brilliant game. 
     
    Also that was some serious loading going on after that cutscene.

    Avatar image for captain_clayman
    captain_clayman

    3349

    Forum Posts

    10

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 2

    #24  Edited By captain_clayman

    DUH 
     
    i LOVE this game so much

    Avatar image for addfwyn
    Addfwyn

    2057

    Forum Posts

    33

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 10

    User Lists: 11

    #25  Edited By Addfwyn
    @MCWHAMMER said:
    " I don't remember mine taking that long to load after an FMV.  What's wrong with your PS3? "

    The game loads during cutscenes, so if you skip cutscenes (I think they skipped part of it) then you get stuck with a loading screen after.  It's pretty clever design, by loading during the FMVs.  I like games that do that.
    Avatar image for jeffsekai
    Jeffsekai

    7162

    Forum Posts

    1060

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 5

    #26  Edited By Jeffsekai

    Uncharted 2 also wins LONGEST LOAD TIME WHAT THE HELL
     
    Just wondering, whys it look so buggy???

    Avatar image for bacongames
    bacongames

    4157

    Forum Posts

    5806

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 2

    User Lists: 8

    #27  Edited By bacongames

    They seem to have the trend of putting only two other Runners Up.  Killzone 2 was a bit neglected, but I feel that's because Jeff was the only one that played it and it was so long ago.
     
    The game gets its due on GameSpot though, which is awesome that KIllzone 2 and Demon's Souls gets hella praise (both PS3 exclusives) there and none here.  Fascinating just to note the differences.

    Avatar image for mildmolasses
    MildMolasses

    3200

    Forum Posts

    386

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 9

    User Lists: 16

    #28  Edited By MildMolasses

    Did Brad give away their GOTY by saying he captured a bunch of Infamous footage? That is a very surprising choice if that's the case. 
     
    Or it was for his Top 10 list
    Avatar image for dany
    Dany

    8019

    Forum Posts

    416

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 4

    #29  Edited By Dany

    What infamous footage was brad grabbing, ah it could be his list

    Avatar image for buzz_killington
    buzz_killington

    3674

    Forum Posts

    5319

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 10

    User Lists: 2

    #30  Edited By buzz_killington

    Do the guys at Giantbomb have a shitty old, clugged-up PS3? Because none of the loading screens in that game took that long...

    Avatar image for addfwyn
    Addfwyn

    2057

    Forum Posts

    33

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 10

    User Lists: 11

    #31  Edited By Addfwyn
    @MildMolasses said:
    " Did Brad give away their GOTY by saying he captured a bunch of Infamous footage? That is a very surprising choice if that's the case.  Or it was for his Top 10 list "
    probably for the Top 10, if Infamous were the game of the year, then it would't be a runner-up for best PS3 game of the year.  As if the best game of the year is a PS3-exclusive, then it has to be the PS3-only game as well. 
     
    Which means the only PS3-only game in the running for GOTY would be Uncharted 2.  Though there's still quite a few multiplatforms in the running too.
    Avatar image for benderunit22
    benderunit22

    1978

    Forum Posts

    9567

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 6

    User Lists: 1

    #32  Edited By benderunit22

    2:31, I'm callin' it

    Avatar image for spacetrucking
    spacetrucking

    1080

    Forum Posts

    91292

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 4

    User Lists: 6

    #33  Edited By spacetrucking

    Hahaha, classic Brad!  And Ryan's continuous "cheering" was just hilarious. I love you guys, please don't change.

    Avatar image for mcwhammer
    MCWHAMMER

    58

    Forum Posts

    500

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 4

    User Lists: 0

    #34  Edited By MCWHAMMER
    @Addfwyn: Ah, that's why mine didn't do that... I watched all the cinematics (and why wouldn't I?  They're fantastic!).
    Avatar image for agentj
    AgentJ

    8996

    Forum Posts

    6144

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 2

    User Lists: 31

    #35  Edited By AgentJ

    Yeah, this sounds about right. Here's hoping that Heavy Rain gets the honor next year.

    Avatar image for marz
    Marz

    6097

    Forum Posts

    755

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 5

    User Lists: 11

    #36  Edited By Marz

    lol brad is bad....

    Avatar image for cornman89
    Cornman89

    1600

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 0

    #37  Edited By Cornman89

    Poor Brad...

    Avatar image for supercubedude
    supercubedude

    573

    Forum Posts

    226

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 5

    #38  Edited By supercubedude

    Good to see, after a year of amazing games that involve jumping and climbing, Brad is still Brad.

    Avatar image for kajaah117
    Kajaah117

    1073

    Forum Posts

    18

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 3

    #39  Edited By Kajaah117
    @Addfwyn said:
    " @MCWHAMMER said:
    " I don't remember mine taking that long to load after an FMV.  What's wrong with your PS3? "
    The game loads during cutscenes, so if you skip cutscenes (I think they skipped part of it) then you get stuck with a loading screen after.  It's pretty clever design, by loading during the FMVs.  I like games that do that. "
    I wish more developers would catch on to that. The first game I remember doing it this generation was Heavenly Sword, though I'm sure something else preceded it, but I LOVED the idea immediately. Hey devs, more of that please!
     
    Another good loading screen mask is playable mini-games or something to that effect. MX vs. ATV let you screw around in a freestyle course and there's plenty more similar examples I'm blanking on right now. 
    Avatar image for infinitegeass
    InfiniteGeass

    2150

    Forum Posts

    446

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 11

    #40  Edited By InfiniteGeass

    This is one of the reasons why I need to get a PS3.

    Avatar image for kinggi
    Kinggi

    318

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #41  Edited By Kinggi

    Yeah there was something off with the loading for this quck look. I think it was because they kept loading fresh chapters. One of the coolest things about the game i thought when i was playing it was there really wasnt any loading for me. Only load that happened was the first one.
    Avatar image for addfwyn
    Addfwyn

    2057

    Forum Posts

    33

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 10

    User Lists: 11

    #42  Edited By Addfwyn
    @Kinggi said:
    " Yeah there was something off with the loading for this quck look. I think it was because they kept loading fresh chapters. One of the coolest things about the game i thought when i was playing it was there really wasnt any loading for me. Only load that happened was the first one. "
    Yeah, i think that they kept jumping around was doing it too, I'll have to try it later, see if that gives more significant loading.  I remember the game seeming pretty seamless 
    Avatar image for rhaknar
    Rhaknar

    6300

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 12

    #43  Edited By Rhaknar

    brad pulled a brad :P this quicklook is really making me want to play the game again!

    Avatar image for gregomasta
    Gregomasta

    1599

    Forum Posts

    438

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 3

    #44  Edited By Gregomasta

    Quick Look of the year

    Avatar image for brackynews
    Brackynews

    4385

    Forum Posts

    27681

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 5

    User Lists: 48

    #45  Edited By Brackynews
    @MildMolasses said:
    " Did Brad give away their GOTY by saying he captured a bunch of Infamous footage? That is a very surprising choice if that's the case.  Or it was for his Top 10 list "
    Top 10 list footage was so short it could've been from the earlier vids.
    Avatar image for cirdain
    Cirdain

    3796

    Forum Posts

    1645

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: -1

    User Lists: 6

    #46  Edited By Cirdain

    Batman?

    Avatar image for bigbombomb
    Bigbombomb

    706

    Forum Posts

    2770

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 8

    #47  Edited By Bigbombomb

    Man… I want a PS3.

    Avatar image for ratcabbage
    Ratcabbage

    269

    Forum Posts

    714

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 5

    #48  Edited By Ratcabbage

    Even though my heart lies with Demon's Souls, I had a great time playing this game. Great pick. 

    Avatar image for asurastrike
    asurastrike

    2307

    Forum Posts

    192

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 8

    #49  Edited By asurastrike
    @MildMolasses said:
    " Did Brad give away their GOTY by saying he captured a bunch of Infamous footage? That is a very surprising choice if that's the case.  Or it was for his Top 10 list "
    I don't see Uncharted 2 winning best PS3 game, and then inFamous winning best overall game.
    Avatar image for zero_
    zero_

    2105

    Forum Posts

    378

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 6

    #50  Edited By zero_

    They should put up a disclaimer here of some sort, the game if played from start to finish literally has zero loading and only loading when you jump around chapters.

    This edit will also create new pages on Giant Bomb for:

    Beware, you are proposing to add brand new pages to the wiki along with your edits. Make sure this is what you intended. This will likely increase the time it takes for your changes to go live.

    Comment and Save

    Until you earn 1000 points all your submissions need to be vetted by other Giant Bomb users. This process takes no more than a few hours and we'll send you an email once approved.